August 29, 2024 3:00 pm ET
Tim Welch has damaged down coaching footage of Merab Dvalishvili.
Welch’s star pupil, Sean O’Malley, defends his bantamweight title in opposition to Dvalishvili within the UFC 306 most important occasion Sept. 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas. Welch sees a significant gap in Dvalishvili’s putting, which he thinks O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) will capitalize on.
“(He) loses stability somewhat bit on the punches, falls ahead, and that’s one thing that undoubtedly might get him in hassle right here, and it’s too near the combat now to repair,” Welch stated of Dvalishvili on his YouTube channel. “Actually lunging in right here, throwing the overhand proper, bringing his again foot with him, which is one other factor that would get you in hassle. You noticed it with Aljo (Sterling).”
Welch did acknowledge Dvalishvili’s tempo and depth whereas coaching.
“Merab doesn’t even management his breath,” Welch stated. “He doesn’t even take into consideration controlling his breath. He’ll simply breathe in, he’ll be mouth respiration the entire time, and he’ll be capable to sustain the tempo. That’s one factor that’s scary about him. He’ll be capable to simply sustain the tempo the entire time. Simply at that, frantic respiration, frantic tempo, that’s one of many issues that makes him actually harmful.” That being stated, Welch doesn’t see anybody Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) might prepare with that will give him an excellent gauge of O’Malley’s motion. Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wood, said the same thing about his fighter.
“I’m grateful that I’m not having to be a coach coaching somebody in opposition to ‘Sugar’ as a result of it could simply be so onerous to seek out sparring companions that may do something remotely near him,” Welch stated. “And you then discover sparring companions that attempt to mimic him. They do their greatest at mimicking him.”
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